BREAKING: Late-Night Construction Throws Mararaba Highway into Chaos

Mararaba, Nasarawa State — A massive gridlock crippled movement on the Abuja–Keffi expressway on Tuesday night after construction workers began Wednesday around 10pm at the Sharp Corner section of Mararaba, forcing all vehicles into a single lane. The traffic started immediately after the Nyanya Bridge and stretched all the way to Mararaba Junction.

Motorists returning from Abuja were trapped for hours as the usually busy corridor became almost impassable. The closure of one lane for construction created a severe bottleneck, leaving drivers to struggle through a narrow passage that could barely accommodate the heavy flow of cars, buses, and trailers.

Many commuters said the gridlock took them by surprise because no prior announcement was made about the nighttime repairs. With the construction equipment blocking one side of the road, thousands were forced into a painfully slow crawl along the single available lane.

A driver who was stuck for over an hour described the experience as frustrating: “Immediately we passed Nyanya Bridge, everything stopped moving. Nobody told us they blocked one lane at Sharp Corner. The traffic didn’t ease until we got close to Mararaba Junction.”

The absence of proper traffic management worsened the situation. Motorists complained that only a few traffic officers were visible, leaving drivers to navigate the chaotic stretch on their own. Poor lighting in certain sections also raised fears of potential accidents.

Construction workers said the repairs were scheduled for nighttime to ease daytime congestion, but the late-hour operation, combined with inadequate control measures, turned the expressway into a long queue of stranded vehicles.

Residents along the corridor noted that the Abuja–Keffi road is already overstretched, and any obstruction — especially between Nyanya and Mararaba — immediately affects thousands of commuters. They called on authorities to coordinate better with construction companies, provide timely information, and deploy more personnel to manage traffic during roadworks.

As rehabilitation continues, motorists are advised to plan ahead and expect nighttime delays around Sharp Corner and Mararaba Junction until the repairs are completed.